Isolation of acetylcholine-sensitive smooth muscle cells from a molluscan catch muscle

Abstract

1. A method was developed for isolating smooth muscle cells which contract in response to acetylcholine (ACh) from the anterior byssus retractor muscle (ABRM) of Mytilus. 2. From 68 to 91% of the cells isolated by using collagenase (0.15%) and leupeptin (1 μg/ml) were responsive to ACh and the ed 50of ACh, based on the number of contracted cells, was 10 −5 M. 3. The results indicate that ACh acts directly on individual smooth muscle cells and all the muscle cells in the ABRM are sensitive to ACh.